Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when full rent support will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has been informed that the social welfare increase in budget 2006 would result in rent support reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12733/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in decisions on individual claims.

The budget 2006 increase in one parent family payment did not lead to a reduction in the level of rent supplement payable in this case or for any other person on one-parent family payment. In response to a previous question by the Deputy on 21 March 2006, I indicated that the Health Service Executive had advised that the person concerned had been awarded a rent supplement payment of €904.50 per month based on her income from her one parent family payment and maintenance. The executive further advised that this amount was calculated following a review of her entitlement on foot of information that the person concerned was receiving weekly income by way of maintenance payments.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if rent allowance will be approved in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12735/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplements are available to eligible people through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement in individual cases.

The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that it has no record of an application for rent supplement from the persons concerned. If the persons concerned wish to make a claim for rent supplement, they should contact the community welfare officer at their local health centre so that their entitlement can be determined.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an increase in supplementary welfare allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12737/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in decisions on individual claims.

The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the HSE has advised that the person concerned is an asylum seeker in receipt of a direct provision allowance of €19.10 granted to her when she resided at accommodation provided previously through the reception and integration agency of the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform. The HSE has further advised that, in view of her move from direct provision accommodation, the payment of this allowance is currently under review and the executive will notify the person concerned directly of the position.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent allowance will be fully restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12740/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In my reply to a previous question from the Deputy on 21 March 2006, I informed him that the Health Service Executive was satisfied that the correct amount of rent supplement was payable in this case but that it was open to the person concerned to appeal the decision. The executive has now advised that an appeal to the rate of rent supplement awarded was received from the person concerned on 21 March 2006. The executive further advises that a decision on the appeal will be made in due course and the person concerned will be notified of the position.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when mortgage support was terminated without notice in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12742/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in decisions on individual claims.

A mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. The executive has advised that payment of mortgage interest supplement to the person concerned was discontinued in December 2005 on the grounds that the interest portion of the mortgage loan had been discharged. The executive further advises that the person concerned met with the local community welfare officer in the past week and has been requested to submit any documentation that would support her claim for continued payment of mortgage interest supplement.